WATERFRONT DEADLOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19072, 17 July 1925, Page 10

WATERFRONT DEADLOCK

NO CHANGE AT DUNEDIN.

WORKERS REFUSE KAWATIRI.

NO CALL FOR OTHER BOATS.

FOUR HUNDRED MEN AFFECTED,

[BY TELEGRAMI. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Thursday. Another phase in the waterfront disputo between the shipping employers and the watersido workers was reached to-day when no labour was forthcoming to discharge the local portion of the Ivawatiri's Newcastle coal cargo. Tho position is in the nature of a complete deadlock, brought about by the ultimatum issued by the employers yesterday to the effect that no fresh labour would bo engaged for any ship until the Kawatiri was manned, and also by the fact that tho watersido workers appear to be equally determined not to discharge tho collier until their demand for an extra rate of pay has been acceded to. As a result over 400 watersido workers spent another idlo day. Three steamers, the Kawatiii, Wanaka and Breeze, are lying at tho wharves with closed hatches, and as the position has now reached' such a crucial stage thero is little prospect of any of them sailing this week. Tho arrival list will be added to to-day and to-morrow by tho Holmdale, Calm, Progress, Kamo, liipa and Ivotare. It will thus bo seen that tho number of ships in port would provido employment for at least 300 men for one or two days. Over 200 men were present when a call was made at 7.50 a.m. to-day for labour to work the Kawatiri. In accordance with the ultimatum issued tho employers' representative was instructed to call for labour for tho Kawatiri first. Tho men assembled were expectant when the Union Company's wharf foreman ascended tho stand. "Any labour offering for tho Kawatiri?" ho called. There was no response, and the call was repeated. There was again no response, and some of those standing round appeared to bo somewhat amused with tho situation. That closed tho morning performance. At 1 p.m. another call was made for labour for tho vessel. T'hcro was again no response. The men had dwindled to about 50 since tho first call. No further calls were mado in tho afternoon, but the majority of the men loitered in the vicinity of the union's rooms. The Wanaka's cargo included about 150 cases of oranges. Tho fruit was landed during the morning by tho Union Company's permanent staff.

The. oversea st«amor Comeric arrived at Port Chalmers this afternoon from Galveston, via Lyttclton. This vessel's cargo of bulk sulphur will bo discharged at Port Chalmers ,and she thereforo will not be affected by the present deadlock at Dunedin.

The oversea steamer Paparoa, having discharged tho remainder of her New York cargo, sailed to-day for Sydney. Tho Oreti left for Invercargill and the oversea steamers Ruapehu and lonic sailed from Port Chalmers for Timaru. None of these vessels were aflected by tho dispute. Tho struggle, means a heavy expense and loss of revenue to the shipping companies, arid tho waterside workers on tho other hand will suffer as the result of the loss of earning power. There are indications that the majority of the waterside workers aro not in favour of the attitude taken by a section of tho union. A reporter was informed yesterday that some of the men aro beginning to resent the actio# taken by their leaders. It is expected that another call for labour to discharge the Kawatiri will bo made to-morrow morning.